E46 M3 or RS4 2.7tt

[Mark34bn]

Now I understand that posting this in the BMW section could bring some predictable answers, but hear me out. I'm a BMW man, love the feel of driving the things etc. But chances to use it seem to be few and far between these days.
Business is going well and we're looking at selling two cars and getting one better one. In terms of looks I love both the RS4 and M3. Is the RS4 really that flawed to drive compared with the M? I've seen nice ones at £13k with 420bhp and all the toys.
Is it just personal preference or is one car markedly 'better' than the other?

[mat205125]

Mate of mine has the turbo RS4 with the usual chips and 'zorst mods that they nearly all seem to have. It is a quicker car in a straight line, and is a very nice and comfortable place to be. I've obviously not driven it as much as my own car, however I personally prefer the M3. The Audi is perfect if your main aim is to go devistatingly fast everywhere in all weathers. The M3 is a bit more of a challenge, and I feel more involved.

If 350+bhp Audi's are your thing, do not write off the idea of a later V8 S4 (assuming budget wont got to a V8 RS4). The soundtrack is brilliant, and the whole car is a generation ahead of the turbo RS4 ..... I can appreciate that the turbo RS4 is a lovely looking, and fast performance package, and could see myself taking one over and E46 if doors and space were a higher priority.

Just to throw a spanner in the works, what about an E39 M5?

[Mark34bn]

I think what I'm looking for is the accelerative hit that seems to be lacking in BMW's unless you really wind them up. I owned an E36 M3 for a year and while it was no doubt a fast car, you needed to be committed to get the speed out of the thing.
E39 M5? Lovely cars, are they on a par with the RS4 in terms of instant shove?

[Great Pretender]

Mark34bn said:

I think what I'm looking for is the accelerative hit that seems to be lacking in BMW's unless you really wind them up. I owned an E36 M3 for a year and while it was no doubt a fast car, you needed to be committed to get the speed out of the thing.
E39 M5? Lovely cars, are they on a par with the RS4 in terms of instant shove?

Bearing in mind that many B5 RS4's have lead a very hard life and subsequently aren't in the rudest of health, I'd say a nice relaible 400bhp from a 5.0 V8 is a better bet. The E39 is a far, far superior car to either of your considerations IMO.

[Mark34bn]

I must admit I've never heard a bad word said about the E39, I didn't really consider it as it's a size up from the cars I normally go for. Running costs are said to be high but I know the two previously mentioned cars can't be run on spare change either. (I'm going into this with my eyes open and an adequate budget for running costs).
I'll try to get a test drive in one and take it from there.

Cheers